Chapter 4 · 42 verses

The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोग

Krishna reveals that this yoga is ancient and that he appears age after age to protect dharma. Seeing inaction in action, the many forms of sacrifice and the purifying power of knowledge are the themes here.

This English meaning is newly written by Bhajan Dhun and is still being reviewed by scholars.

1. 4.1

   श्री भगवानुवाच

   इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् ।
   विवस्वान् मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् ॥४.१॥

   The Lord said: I taught this imperishable yoga to Vivasvan, the sun-god; Vivasvan taught it to Manu, and Manu to King Ikshvaku.

2. 4.2

   एवं परम्पराप्राप्तमिमं राजर्षयो विदुः ।
   स कालेनेह महता योगो नष्टः परन्तप ॥४.२॥

   Handed down in this way, the royal sages knew it. But over a long period of time, O scorcher of foes, this yoga was lost to the world.

3. 4.3

   स एवायं मया तेऽद्य योगः प्रोक्तः पुरातनः ।
   भक्तोऽसि मे सखा चेति रहस्यं ह्येतदुत्तमम् ॥४.३॥

   That same ancient yoga I have taught you today, for you are my devotee and my friend. It is the supreme secret.

4. 4.4

   अर्जुन उवाच

   अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः ।
   कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ॥४.४॥

   Arjuna said: Your birth is recent, while Vivasvan was born long ago. How am I to understand that you taught it in the beginning?

5. 4.5

   श्री भगवानुवाच

   बहूनि मे व्यतीतानि जन्मानि तव चार्जुन ।
   तान्यहं वेद सर्वाणि न त्वं वेत्थ परन्तप ॥४.५॥

   The Lord said: Many births of mine and of yours have passed, Arjuna. I know them all, but you do not, O scorcher of foes.

6. 4.6

   अजोऽपि सन्नव्ययात्मा भूतानामीश्वरोऽपि सन् ।
   प्रकृतिं स्वामधिष्ठाय संभवाम्यात्ममायया ॥४.६॥

   Though I am unborn and imperishable, and the Lord of all beings, I take birth by my own divine power, keeping my nature under my control.

7. 4.7

   यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।
   अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽऽत्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥४.७॥

   Whenever there is a decline of dharma and a rise of adharma, O Bharata, I manifest myself.

8. 4.8

   परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
   धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे ॥४.८॥

   To protect the good, to destroy the wicked and to re-establish dharma, I appear from age to age.

9. 4.9

   जन्म कर्म च मे दिव्यमेवं यो वेत्ति तत्त्वतः ।
   त्यक्त्वा देहं पुनर्जन्म नैति मामेति सोऽर्जुन ॥४.९॥

   One who truly understands my divine birth and deeds is not born again after leaving the body, but comes to me, Arjuna.

10. 4.10

    वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः ।
    बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः ॥४.१०॥

    Free from attachment, fear and anger, absorbed in me and taking refuge in me, many have been purified by the austerity of knowledge and have attained my nature.

11. 4.11

    ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् ।
    मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥४.११॥

    As people approach me, so I receive them. All people follow my path in every way, O Partha.

12. 4.12

    काङ्क्षन्तः कर्मणां सिद्धिं यजन्त इह देवताः ।
    क्षिप्रं हि मानुषे लोके सिद्धिर्भवति कर्मजा ॥४.१२॥

    Those who desire success in their work worship the gods here, for success born of action comes quickly in the human world.

13. 4.13

    चातुर्वर्ण्यं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः ।
    तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यकर्तारमव्ययम् ॥४.१३॥

    The fourfold social order was created by me according to qualities and work. Though I am its creator, know me to be the non-doer and unchanging.

14. 4.14

    न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा ।
    इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ॥४.१४॥

    Actions do not taint me, nor do I desire their fruits. One who knows me thus is not bound by actions.

15. 4.15

    एवं ज्ञात्वा कृतं कर्म पूर्वैरपि मुमुक्षुभिः ।
    कुरु कर्मैव तस्मात्त्वं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् ॥४.१५॥

    Knowing this, the seekers of liberation of old also performed action. So you too should do your work, as the ancients did before you.

16. 4.16

    किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः ।
    तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥४.१६॥

    What is action and what is inaction? Even the wise are confused here. So I will explain to you what action is, knowing which you will be freed from evil.

17. 4.17

    कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः ।
    अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः ॥४.१७॥

    One must understand action, wrong action and inaction, for the way of action is deep.

18. 4.18

    कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः ।
    स बुद्धिमान् मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥४.१८॥

    One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is wise among people; such a person is a yogi who has done all that is to be done.

19. 4.19

    यस्य सर्वे समारम्भाः कामसङ्कल्पवर्जिताः ।
    ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणं तमाहुः पण्डितं बुधाः ॥४.१९॥

    One whose undertakings are all free from desire and selfish intention, and whose actions are burnt in the fire of knowledge, is called wise by the learned.

20. 4.20

    त्यक्त्वा कर्मफलासङ्गं नित्यतृप्तो निराश्रयः ।
    कर्मण्यभिप्रवृत्तोऽपि नैव किञ्चित्करोति सः ॥४.२०॥

    Giving up attachment to the fruits of action, ever content and dependent on nothing, such a person does nothing at all even while fully engaged in action.

21. 4.21

    निराशीर्यतचित्तात्मा त्यक्तसर्वपरिग्रहः ।
    शारीरं केवलं कर्म कुर्वन्नाप्नोति किल्बिषम् ॥४.२१॥

    Without expectations, with mind and body controlled, giving up all possessiveness and doing only bodily work, one incurs no sin.

22. 4.22

    यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः ।
    समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते ॥४.२२॥

    Content with what comes unsought, beyond the pairs of opposites, free from envy and even-minded in success and failure, such a person is not bound even while acting.

23. 4.23

    गतसङ्गस्य मुक्तस्य ज्ञानावस्थितचेतसः ।
    यज्ञायाचरतः कर्म समग्रं प्रविलीयते ॥४.२३॥

    For one who is free from attachment and liberated, whose mind is established in knowledge and who acts as an offering, all action dissolves completely.

24. 4.24

    ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्महविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम् ।
    ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना ॥४.२४॥

    The offering is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, poured by Brahman into the fire of Brahman. One who sees Brahman in every action reaches Brahman alone.

25. 4.25

    दैवमेवापरे यज्ञं योगिनः पर्युपासते ।
    ब्रह्माग्नावपरे यज्ञं यज्ञेनैवोपजुह्वति ॥४.२५॥

    Some yogis offer sacrifice by worshipping the gods; others offer the self as sacrifice into the fire of Brahman.

26. 4.26

    श्रोत्रादीनीन्द्रियाण्यन्ये संयमाग्निषु जुह्वति ।
    शब्दादीन्विषयानन्य इन्द्रियाग्निषु जुह्वति ॥४.२६॥

    Some offer hearing and the other senses into the fires of restraint; others offer sound and other objects into the fires of the senses.

27. 4.27

    सर्वाणीन्द्रियकर्माणि प्राणकर्माणि चापरे ।
    आत्मसंयमयोगाग्नौ जुह्वति ज्ञानदीपिते ॥४.२७॥

    Others offer all the functions of the senses and of the life-breath into the fire of self-control, kindled by knowledge.

28. 4.28

    द्रव्ययज्ञास्तपोयज्ञा योगयज्ञास्तथापरे ।
    स्वाध्यायज्ञानयज्ञाश्च यतयः संशितव्रताः ॥४.२८॥

    Some offer wealth, some austerity, some yoga, and some disciplined seekers of strict vows offer study of scripture and knowledge as their sacrifice.

29. 4.29

    अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथाऽपरे ।
    प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः ॥४.२९॥

    Some offer the in-breath into the out-breath and the out-breath into the in-breath; devoted to breath-control, others restrain the movement of both.

30. 4.30

    अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति ।
    सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः ॥४.३०॥

    Others, regulating their food, offer the life-breaths into the life-breaths. All these know the meaning of sacrifice, and through sacrifice their sins are destroyed.

31. 4.31

    यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यान्ति ब्रह्म सनातनम् ।
    नायं लोकोऽस्त्ययज्ञस्य कुतोऽन्यः कुरुसत्तम ॥४.३१॥

    Those who partake of the nectar left over from sacrifice reach the eternal Brahman. O best of the Kurus, even this world is not for one who does not sacrifice — how then the next?

32. 4.32

    एवं बहुविधा यज्ञा वितता ब्रह्मणो मुखे ।
    कर्मजान्विद्धि तान्सर्वानेवं ज्ञात्वा विमोक्ष्यसे ॥४.३२॥

    Thus many kinds of sacrifice are described in the Vedas. Know them all to be born of action; knowing this, you will be liberated.

33. 4.33

    श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप ।
    सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ॥४.३३॥

    O scorcher of foes, the sacrifice of knowledge is better than sacrifice with material things. All action, O Partha, culminates in knowledge.

34. 4.34

    तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।
    उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥४.३४॥

    Learn it from those who have seen the truth — by humble reverence, sincere questioning and service. The wise will teach you that knowledge.

35. 4.35

    यज्ज्ञात्वा न पुनर्मोहमेवं यास्यसि पाण्डव ।
    येन भूतान्यशेषेण द्रक्ष्यस्यात्मन्यथो मयि ॥४.३५॥

    Knowing it, O son of Pandu, you will never again fall into such delusion, and by it you will see all beings in yourself and then in me.

36. 4.36

    अपि चेदसि पापेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यः पापकृत्तमः ।
    सर्वं ज्ञानप्लवेनैव वृजिनं सन्तरिष्यसि ॥४.३६॥

    Even if you are the worst of all sinners, you will cross the whole ocean of sin by the raft of knowledge alone.

37. 4.37

    यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन ।
    ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा ॥४.३७॥

    As a blazing fire turns firewood to ashes, O Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge turns all karma to ashes.

38. 4.38

    न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते ।
    तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥४.३८॥

    Truly, nothing in this world purifies like knowledge. One perfected in yoga finds it within oneself in due course.

39. 4.39

    श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः ।
    ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति ॥४.३९॥

    One with faith, devoted to it and with the senses controlled, gains knowledge; and having gained knowledge, quickly attains supreme peace.

40. 4.40

    अज्ञश्चाश्रद्दधानश्च संशयात्मा विनश्यति ।
    नायं लोकोऽस्ति न परो न सुखं संशयात्मनः ॥४.४०॥

    The ignorant, the faithless and the doubting perish. For the doubter there is neither this world nor the next, nor any happiness.

41. 4.41

    योगसंन्यस्तकर्माणं ज्ञानसंछिन्नसंशयम् ।
    आत्मवन्तं न कर्माणि निबध्नन्ति धनञ्जय ॥४.४१॥

    O Dhananjaya, actions do not bind one who has renounced action through yoga, whose doubts are cut away by knowledge and who is established in the Self.

42. 4.42

    तस्मादज्ञानसंभूतं हृत्स्थं ज्ञानासिनाऽऽत्मनः ।
    छित्त्वैनं संशयं योगमातिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ भारत ॥४.४२॥

    Therefore, O Bharata, cut this doubt born of ignorance and lodged in your heart with the sword of knowledge; take refuge in yoga and arise.